Kulttuurimaisemat

Kulttuurimaisemat are landscapes shaped by the long-term interaction between people and their environment. They embody the visible and invisible results of land use, settlement, and cultural practice, combining fields, forests, waterways, roads, buildings, and monuments with the meanings attached to these features. The concept emphasizes that landscape is produced and maintained through cultural choices, not only by natural processes.

Essentials of kulttuurimaisemat include land-use patterns, built heritage, and practices that connect people to place, such as farming methods, seasonal routines, and place-names. They may also include ecological features that have arisen through human activity, such as hedgerows, irrigation, and mosaic habitats. They are dynamic and can change with technology, economy, and climate, while retaining historical memory.

Typologies commonly recognized are rural agricultural landscapes, urban or townscapes with historic cores, industrial or mining landscapes, and coastal or maritime landscapes. In Finland, kulttuurimaisemat span from traditional farm-and-forest landscapes to industrial-era towns and post-industrial sites, reflecting centuries of adaptation to the Nordic environment.

Protection and interpretation of kulttuurimaisemat are part of national heritage work and planning. Authorities, local communities, and stakeholders collaborate to document, manage, and, where appropriate, restore or adapt landscapes to maintain their character while supporting contemporary use. Challenges include development pressure, neglect, and climate change.

Internationally, the concept aligns with UNESCO's notion of cultural landscapes, and many countries maintain inventories and protection regimes that recognize the value of such landscapes for heritage, education, and sustainable development.